Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-07-07
WA SHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent.


one Of the most admirable traits OF
her character, the fidelity with which
she maintains the friendships sh,
formed in girlhood and college life
"rhe first lady of the Land" seems
more youthful and radiant than ever
learn that the President and his
wife contemplate rather extensive
western tour next fall, visiting be
sides St. Louis, Kansas City, De
troit and other places, which will
probably be the first active move.
ment in behalf of his boom for re
nomination.
When | write of Cleveland, it
brings Mr.. Blaine to my mind. From
the statements of Senators Fry and
Hale, who are bosom friends of the
Maine statesman, | conclude that he
too, will be candidate for the
Presidency in 1888, for both say
they believe he will be renomin ated.
All of these gentlemen being at
present in Europe; and / infer they
have fine opportunities for continu-
ing their confidential relations.
Mr.. Cleveland aud Mr.. Bayard
have pooled their small stock of
brains and each endeaVored to out
toady the other in expressing their
admiration for Queen Victoria, Eag-
lands royal fgure.head. Contrast
this contemptibly obsequious lack
OF true patriotic feeling with Mr..
Blaiue's declination to accept the
invitation Of Prime Minister Sails
bury, to attend reception at the
foreign office, in honor of visiting
royalties.
The recent examination, the first
| uhucl thS He" ClFll ncfNlCe fuleS, OF
clerks in the Quarter Master Gener.
al's office, reveals the fact that it is
simply scheme to GUST Republicans
from office on finely scholastic ques
tons that have no reference TO cleri
cal duties; for out of 80 clerks ex.
amined, but ten passed, in face of
the fact, that all have satisfactory
records as to efficiency. Many of
the clerks made no attempt to
answer these questions, as only a
professor or a schoolboy could do so
successfully, and SO the farce ended
The pension office has overhauled
the persons who have used an old
intrm soldier to defraud the Gov
eminent out of $4,000, in pension
money and recovered most of the
sum. Those who are yerdant
enough to commit such frauds al
ways come to grief, as the United
States have no mercy on swindlers.
Twelve new rooms are being
added to the third story of the Pat
ent Office, to provide an outlet for
the over.crowded clerks in the other
rooms of the building, especially
those below.
So much has been written about
battle-fags that | have made a visit
to the War Department and person.
ally inspected those tattered though
treasured relics of rebellion, finding
nearly 600 of them named in a book
with this title: "Record Of Rebel
flags captured by the Union troops
since April 10Th, 1901" In the
same room are over 200 Federal
flags taken by Confederate troops
and recaptured with Richmond.
4 ne ItHiatHuti are Aiep y mon DdH-
ners, turned over to the War De.
partment by the several state organ
izations. Some of the Confederate
flags are made of women's dresses,
An of them are worn by time into
shreds.
A prominent official Of the Int
rior Department, through his own
folly, finds himself in a very en-
barrassing position. 4 young lady,
who had passed q oreditsble civil.
service examination aud felt conf
dent Of appointment, received 3
visit from this man, who assured
her that he would secure her the
place, but, coupled the promise with
an insulting proposal, which was
Indignantly spurned And now this